Don't Brush Aside Daily Dental Hygiene

Americans consumed an estimated 24.7 pounds of candy per person in 2010!1 It's likely much of that was enjoyed between Halloween and New Year's Eve. With that in mind, I checked in with Dr. Mark Waltzer, D.M.D., F.A.G.D. and participating Delta Dental dentist, for his advice on maintaining good oral hygiene throughout the holidays when we might have other things on our mind and become a little lax with simple tasks like brushing and flossing.

Dr. Waltzer reminds us that the daily one-two punch of brushing twice with fluoride toothpaste and flossing once is still the foundation for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, and can help combat the effects of sugar on the teeth. As uncomplicated as it may be, consistency is the key. Here are some tips.

Clean your teeth every morning and night with fluoride toothpaste, ideally right after eating. The sooner you can brush following a meal, the better. The longer food stays stuck to your teeth, the more acid is produced that erodes tooth enamel.

You don't have to carry a toothbrush in your pocket. Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal provides some help as it stimulates saliva to buffer the acid and helps dislodge food particles from the mouth. Gum containing the natural sweetener, Xylitol, is a particularly good option since studies have shown that consistent exposure to Xylitol can reduce cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Use a toothbrush with soft, flexible bristles. Soft bristles clean just as well and have less potential to damage the teeth and gums. Although you can do an equally good job with a standard toothbrush, studies have shown that some people, particularly those with physical disabilities or difficulty brushing, can do a more thorough job with a rotating/oscillating powered (electronic) toothbrush.2

Use best practices in brushing and flossing. You should brush gently under the gumline.3Using your toothbrush too aggressively can further gum recession and leave the root of the tooth exposed and vulnerable to eventual decay.4 Don't forget to scrub bacteria from your tongue and the roof of your mouth, two often ignored areas of the mouth.

Young children are particularly prone to tooth decay, so brushing properly with fluoride toothpaste is important. Parents should supervise young children (or actually do the job for very young kids) to make sure they do a good job, don't put too much toothpaste on the brush and spit out the excess when they are finished. Fluoride is great for preventing cavities, but swallowing toothpaste while the teeth are still developing under the gums can contribute to dental fluorosis, which usually appears as faint white markings on the teeth when they finally erupt.

It's a good idea to rinse and gargle with mouthwash. Most people use mouthwash to combat bad breath or morning mouth. The smell is caused by bacteria that accumulate on the tongue and produce sulphuric compounds like hydrogen sulfide. To combat this, mouth rinses are classified in two categories: those that kill the bacteria and those that neutralize or mask the odor. Children can benefit from swishing with mouthwash containing fluoride as long as they are supervised. But it can certainly also help adults who battle with cavities or have a lot of crowns and fillings.

More and more, scientists are finding direct associations between dental health and overall well-being. So maintaining proper dental hygiene isn't only about smart oral health care, it's about good health care overall.